The Palestinian resistance movement has grown in popularity as a result of Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip. And the popularity of the Fatah group, the Palestinian Authority and its top leaders has plummeted. This is according to a poll conducted by the Jerusalem Media and Communication Center in collaboration with the German NGO Ebert-Stiftung.
The survey was conducted in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Gaza was excluded from the survey for security reasons.
The Arab majority in the West Bank, known to Israelis as Judea and Samaria, say Hamas will win the war against Israel.
The question was: This war will end with the rise or fall of Hamas among the Palestinians – which do you think? 55% of respondents said that Hamas’s popularity will increase. Only 13.1 percent said that Hamas’s popularity will decrease. And 27.3 percent said, there will be no change in popularity.
Nearly 40 percent of the poll said the October 7 attack served the Palestinians’ national interests. 30.2 percent feel that it has harmed their interests. And 23.5 percent felt it did neither gain nor loss.
More than 41 percent think the war will end in favor of Hamas. Only 6.3 percent think it will end in Israel’s favor.
When asked which Palestinian leader they trust the most, 7.1 percent said Marwan Barghouti. It should be noted that he is now in Israeli prison accused of ordering murder and suicide attacks during the Second Intifada. He has been sentenced to life imprisonment five times.
In addition, Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar received 2.7 percent, Palestinian Authority President Abbas Mahmoud 2.5 percent, and Hamas spokesman Abu Obaidah 3.6 percent. 65% said that they do not trust any leader.
The survey was conducted on May 22-25. 715 people over the age of 18 in the occupied West Bank were interviewed.
The survey shows that there is a clear division between Palestinians on the two-state solution or the one-state solution.
There are also differences of opinion among the Palestinians over the achievement of their national goals. They are divided on whether armed struggle, military resistance or diplomatically peaceful resistance should be pursued.
Some of the findings of the survey:
* About 40 percent of respondents believe that the October 7 attacks and the ongoing war inside Israel serve Palestinian national interests.